The Ultimate Tour Du Mont Blanc

Country Profile

Geography

France is the second largest country in Europe, extending to more than half a million square kilometers. Divided into 96 administrative regions or departments, the country has land
borders to the southeast with Italy and to the east, with Switzerland, Germany
and Belgium. To the southwest, France has a long border with Spain. The English
Channel lies to the north and the warmer waters of the Mediterranean lie to the
south. Two thirds of France is mountains and hills. The most important mountain range is the French Alps, a part of the European Alps, which extend for some 1000 kilometres (620 miles), through parts of southeastern France, Switzerland, Italy, Germany, Austria and
Slovenia. Amongst the hundreds of peaks comprising this range, there are some
75 which top the 4000 metre (13000ft.) mark. Above 3000 metres (10000ft.), the
mountains are permanently snow-capped and the region is heavily glaciated. In
many alpine valleys, forests of pine reach above 2500 metres (8000ft.)and there
are flower-filled alpine pastures above this height. At 4808 metres (15,767ft.)
Mont Blanc is the highest and most complicated mountain massif in the Alps.
Thirty glaciers flow down from its upper snow slopes and these have contributed
to the creation of the jagged rock spires (aiguilles) which are such a
distinctive feature, when viewed from the French town of Chamonix. The second
biggest range of mountains in France is the Pyrenees, which forms a natural
border with Spain. From the Bay of Biscay and the Atlantic Ocean in the west,
the Pyrenees extend for more than 400 kilometres (250 miles) to the
Mediterranean in the east, whilst the maximum width of the chain (north to
south) is about 130 kilometres (80 miles). Amongst France's other mountainous
areas are the Massif Central, which does not have any really big peaks, but
does cover almost one-sixth of the country.

Time Zone

The time in France is GMT +1 hour
and GMT + 2 hours in summer time.

Language

Whilst English is widely
understood in France, we do recommend you try to learn some simple phrases and
greetings, as attempting to speak the local language is all part of the fun of travelling and will be appreciated by the people you meet.

Climate

The climate is very
variable across France. In the north, there is a temperate pattern of climate,
influenced by the Atlantic Ocean. Temperatures are generally mild, quite hot in
summer, with rainfall spread throughout the year and modest snowfall in winter.
Further south, the climate is Mediterranean, with hot summers and mild winters.
The mountainous areas of the Alps and Pyrenees have variable climates
influenced by their elevations. Although the high valleys of the Alps and the
Pyrenees can experience near arctic conditions during the winter, it pays to
remember that each of these areas is less than 300 kilometres (185 miles) from
the Mediterranean. In summer, the climate is hot and sunny in the valleys and
pleasantly cool at the high cols. June, July and August usually provide the
most reliable weather conditions for mountain activities in this area. The
temperatures that we can expect to encounter during the day will be reasonably
warm, ranging from 10 to 25 degrees centigrade (50º - 77º F). It can be cool in
the evenings at our highest overnight stopping places, falling below freezing
point at night. We can also expect clear, frosty conditions on our early
"Alpine" starts. Of course, mountainous area do produce their own weather
systems and short-lived storms cannot be ruled out at any time of the year.

Currency

The unit of currency in France is the Euro. For
up to date exchange rates visit: www.xe.com

You should take some euros with you on your holiday to France. These are readily available at most banks. If you run out of euros, dollars and sterling (cash or travellers
cheques) can easily be exchanged once you are in France, although not every
bank will provide this service. French post offices will often change money,
however. Credit and debit cards can be used widely and you will also be able to
obtain currency at cash machines (ATM's) at larger French banks in the usual
way.

Visa Requirements

You will need a valid passport. Nationals of the EU, the USA, Canada,
New Zealand, and Australia do not require visas to visit France, Italy or
Switzerland as tourists for up to three months. Nationals of other countries
should check the visa requirement with the relevant embassy in their own
countries.

Vaccinations

You should attend
your own doctor and dentist for a check-up. No special vaccinations are
required for France. UK residents should obtain a European Health Insurance
Card (EHIC) before travelling. The EHIC is normally valid for three to five
years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip,
because of either illness or an accident. The card gives access to
state-provided medical treatment only, and you'll be treated on the same basis
as an 'insured' person living in the country you're visiting. Remember, this
might not cover all the things you'd expect to get free of charge from the NHS
in the UK. You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care. You
can obtain an EHIC from the Department of Health by phone, online, or at the post office.